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Apotex Scorpio
Motorsport’s Will Bratt (Banbury) signalled his intentions with the fastest time
in official testing ahead of rounds 17 and 18 of the Formula Renault UK with
Michelin Championship on Wednesday, 5th September. Lying third in
the drivers’ standings heading into the World Series by Renault weekend at
Donington Park GP circuit, the 19-year-old boosted his confidence with a time of
1min 29.304s (100.78mph) in the third and final session at the Derbyshire
venue.
AKA Cobra’s
Jeremy Metcalfe (Fleet) led the times after session one with a mark of 1min
30.746s (99.18mph) with track conditions tricky in the early stages of the test.
Fortec Motorsport’s championship leader Dean Smith (Wolverhampton) was second
with Manor Competition’s Alex Morgan (Bridgend) impressing in third.
Session two saw
Morgan’s team-mate Alexander Sims (Peterborough), already a race-winner at
Donington Park during round 11 on the National circuit configuration, set the
fastest time of 1min 30.003s (100.00mph). Metcalfe was second ahead of Hillspeed
Racing’s Richard Singleton (Conwy), while Morgan was fourth.
With most
drivers opting to switch to new tyres in the third and final session, Bratt
brilliantly shaved almost two seconds off his previous best to set the day’s
benchmark time. Smith was almost four-tenths of a second adrift in second place,
while Morgan returned to the top three to complete a season-best day for the
Welshman.
Smith’s main
title rival Duncan Tappy (West Ewell) was fourth in the first session and ninth
in the second session. His best time of 1min 29.827s (100.19mph) placed him
fifth in the final session, half a second behind Bratt.
Commenting on
the successful test, Will Bratt said: “The track was pretty bad in the first
session but it gave us a chance to see how the car was set-up. I used the second
session to bed in brakes to prepare for the races and aimed for my true pace in
the last stint. I knew there was plenty of time to come but I was a little
surprised just how much.
“This weekend is
important in terms of staying in the title race and I’m aiming for two wins with
two fastest laps to give me the best chance. But I’m not getting carried away
and know that testing is testing and what really matters is what happens on
Sunday.”
Qualifying for
rounds 17 and 18 takes place on Saturday, 8th September with one
session determining both grids. Each driver’s fastest time earns their grid slot
for round 17, with their second fastest time determining round 18. Both races
take place on Sunday, 9th September, scheduled at 09.00 and 15.55
respectively.
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